Strawberry plant named `Pacific`

ABSTRACT

`CN211` is a new and distinct cultivar of strawberry plant of the day-neutral type which has larger fruit and produces greater yields than `Selva` or `Seascape` when treated with appropriate planting regimes. Commercial appearance ratings for `CN211` are superior to those for the comparison cultivars.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinctive day-neutral typecultivar designated as `CN211`, which resulted from a cross performed in1991 between `Seascape` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,614) and Cal 88.118-603.The cultivar is botanically identified as F.×ananassa Duch.

`CN211`, was first fruited at the university of California WolfskillExperimental Orchard, near Winters, Calif. in 1992, where it wasselected, originally designated Cal 91.324-1, and propagated asexuallyby runners. Following selecting and during testing the plant of thisdisclosure was designated `CN211`. With the decision that this plant wasto be released, it was given the name `Pacific` for the purposes ofintroduction into commerce and for international registration andrecognition. Asexual propagules from this original source have beentested at the Wastonville Strawberry Research Facility, the South CoastResearch and Extension Center, and to a limited extent in grower fieldsstarting in 1994.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts the general flowering and fruiting characteristics of theplant.

FIG. 2 depicts the typical mature leaf during late spring.

FIG. 3 depicts representative mid-season fruit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

`CN211` is moderate in expressing the day-neutral character, being astronger day-neutral than `Seascape`, comparable to `Selva` (U.S. PlantPat. No. 5,266), and less so than `Fern` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,267) or`Irvine` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,172). The production pattern for`CN211`, is similar to that for `Selva` and will be of special interestfor winter plantings, where `Selva` and `Seascape` have been successfuland summer plantings where `Seascape` has been successful.

Plants and Foliage

Fruiting plants of `CN211` are slightly more erect and perhaps slightlymore vigorous than plants of `Selva`, less erect and less vigorous thanplants of `Seascape`. With appropriate treatment, `CN211`, has a similarsized plant to `Selva`, but is smaller in size than `Seascape`.Comparative statistics for foliar characters near mid-season are givenfor the three cultivars in Table 1. Leaflets of `CN211` are similar insize but considerably more rounded than leaves of `Selva` or `Seascape`.Leaves including petioles are somewhat longer but similar in width tothe comparision cultivars. Petioles are thicker and more stiff thanthose of `Selva` and are similar to those of `Seascape`. `CN211` hasvariable leaf convexity, generally flat or convex but not as convex as`Selva`, and has more and more pointed serrations than the comparisoncultivars. The adaxial (upper) leaf surface for `CN211` is lighter thanfor `Seascape` but darker than `Selva`, whereas the abaxial surface isslightly lighter than either cultivar (Table 2).

Isozymes in Leaf Extracts

`CN211`, has been classified for three isozyme systems using starch gelelectrophoresis (Table 3): Phosopholucoisomerase (PGI), LeucineAminopeptidase (LAP), and Phosphoglucomutase (PGM). It isdistinguishable from both `Selva` and `Seascape` using this methodology.For electrophoretic procedures see: J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci.106:684-687.

Disease and Pest Reaction

`CN211` is moderately susceptible to common leaf spot (Ramulariatulasnei), Anthracnose crown rot (Colletotrichum acutatum), andVerticillium wilt (Verticillium dahliae), and is relatively resistant topowdery mildew (Sphaerotheca macularis). When treated properly, it hastolerance to two-spotted spidermites (Tetranychus urticae) similar to orgreater than `Seascape` and `Selva`. `CN211`, is tolerant to strawberryviruses encountered in California.

                  TABLE 1                                                         ______________________________________                                        Foliar characteristics for `CN211`, `Selva`, and                              `Seascape`.                                                                   Foliar      Cultivar                                                          Character   `Selva`    `Seascape` `CN211`                                     ______________________________________                                        Mid-tier leaflet                                                              Length (mm)                                                                   mean        72.6       72.8       73.1                                        range       65-88      65-82      67-81                                       Width (mm)                                                                    mean        68.2       64.5       76.5                                        range       51-84      48-78      68-88                                       Mid-tier leaf                                                                 Length (mm)                                                                   mean        119.2      123.8      131.7                                       range       94-139     80-155     118-148                                     Width (mm)                                                                    mean        130.1      127.1      136.6                                       range       111-170    108-150    121-173                                     #           3          3, rarely 4                                                                              3                                           leaflets/leaf                                                                 Leaf convexity                                                                            mostly flat to                                                                           concave to flat to                                                 convex     convex, mostly                                                                           convex, few                                                        flat to convex                                                                           concave                                     Serrations                                                                    number      few-moderate                                                                             moderate   moderate to                                                                   many                                        shape       round to semi-                                                                           semi-round to                                                                            semi-pointed                                            pointed    semi-pointed                                           Leaf        moderate   moderate   moderate                                    pubescence                                                                    Petiole pubescence                                                            density     heavy      mod. to heavy                                                                            mod. to heavy                               direction   perpendicular                                                                            perpendicular                                                                            perpendicular                                                      to slight  to basipetal                                                       acropetal                                              ______________________________________                                    

Flowering, Fruiting, Fruit, and Production

Characteristics `CN211` is similar to other California day-neutralcultivars (e. g. `Selva` and `Seascape`) in that it will flowerindependently of day length, given appropriate temperatrure andfertility conditions. Comparative statistics for flower and fruitcharacters near mid-season are given for the three cultivars in Table 4.The primary flowers for `CN211` are similar in size, perhaps slightlylarge than `Selva` and `Seascape`; the sepals are somewhat larger thanfor `Seascape` and substantially larger than for `Selva`. The calyx for`CN211` varies from slightly indented to slightly necked, and eachprimary flower has 5-7 petals. The fruit shape for `CN211` can vary butis typically a short symmetric conic, and is easily distinguished fromother California day-neutral cultivars. External fruit color for `CN211`is darker than for `Selva` and lighter than for `Seascape`, and fruit issubstantially more glossy than either comparison cultivar. Internalcolor for `CN211` is similar to that for `Selva` and lighter than thatof `Seascape`. Achenes vary but are red to dark red, and are even withthe fruit surface or slightly extruded.

`CN211` has been tested under a variety of cultural regimes, and optimalperformance is obtained when nursery treatments and nutritional programssimilar to those for `Selva`and `Seascape` are used. In general, `CN211`is very similar in plant vigor to `Selva` and requires similar chillingto insure fruit quality and tolerance to spidermites.

When treated with appropriate planting regimes, `CN211` has larger fruitand produces greater yields than `Selva` or `Seascape` (Table 5).Production for `CN211` initiates slightly earlier than the comparisoncultivars and it produces slightly larger quantities of late-seasonfruit. Commercial appearance ratings have been superior to those for thecomparison cultivars. Fruit firmness is similar to that for `Selva` andgreater than that for `Seascape`. Subjectively, `CN211` has very goodflavor, substantially better than `Selva`, and equal to that for`Seascape`. The fruit will be outstanding for both fresh market andprocessing, and will be useful for home garden purposes.

                  TABLE 2                                                         ______________________________________                                        Foliar and fruit color characteristics for `CN211`,                           `Selva`, and `Seascape`.                                                      Color          Cultivar                                                       Character      `Selva`   `Seascape`                                                                              `CN211`                                    ______________________________________                                        Leaf color (CIELAB)                                                           Adaxial                                                                       L*                                                                            mean           31.9      29.1      30.8                                       range          30.2-33.7 26.9-32.3 28.2-33.4                                  a*                                                                            mean           -6.5      -5.1      -7.2                                       range          -5.7--7.2 -2.4--6.6 -5.6--9.1                                  b*                                                                            mean           12.7      11.3      13.5                                       range          9.8-15.8  9.5-16.5  8.7-19.2                                   Munsell        2.5G 3/3  2.5GY 4/3 2.5GY 5/5                                  Abaxial                                                                       L*                                                                            mean           48.3      48.3      50.5                                       range          47.2-50.4 47.0-49.6 49.1-52.0                                  a*                                                                            mean           -7.7      -7.2      -8.0                                       range          -7.3--8.3 -6.3--8.0 -7.6--8.3                                  b*                                                                            mean           17.9      18.1      16.7                                       range          16.7-19.4 16.7-19.0 15.1-18.7                                  Munsell        7.5GY 4/4 10GY 4/5  10Y 5/5                                    L*                                                                            mean           28.5      25.4      27.3                                       range          23.7-33.1 22.7-31.5 25.8-29.6                                  a*                                                                            mean           29.7      28.7      29.8                                       range          26.9-31.5 25.4-33.1 25.6-35.6                                  b*                                                                            mean           16.9      13.7      15.3                                       range          14.4-22.1 9.3-19.8  12.4-19.5                                  Munsell        5R 4/12   5R 3/7    5R 4/12                                                             5R 4/12                                              Internal                                                                      L*                                                                            mean           48.8      45.5      51.3                                       range          44.4-53.1 38.3-55.0 47.0-57.0                                  a*                                                                            mean           35.2      37.8      34.0                                       range          31.5-39.5 30.8-42.7 26.3-41.2                                  b*                                                                            mean           29.4      26.9      21.7                                       range          26.9-33.9 21.9-34.2 16.6-27.2                                  Munsell        5R 5/13   7R 5/13   5R 5/13                                    ______________________________________                                         *CIELAB is the abbreviation of the international color system known as        "Commission Internationale De L'Eclairage" 1978. Recommendations on           uniform color spaces - color difference equations, psychometric color         terms Supplement No. 2 to CIE Publication No. 15. PARIS.                 

                  TABLE 3                                                         ______________________________________                                        Isozyme phenotypes for `CN211`, `Selva`, and `Seascape`.                              Cultivar                                                              locus   `Selva`       `Seascape`                                                                             `CN211`                                        ______________________________________                                        PGI     A2            A4       A4                                             LAP     B3            B3       B3                                             PGM     C2            C2       C1                                             ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 4                                                         ______________________________________                                        Flowered fruit characters for `CN211`,                                        `Selva`, and `Seascape`.                                                                  Cultivar                                                          Character   `Selva`    `Seascape` `CN211`                                     ______________________________________                                        # petals                                                                      mean        5.8        6.1        5.6                                         range       5-8        5-7        5-7                                         Flower      even or    most even  mostly even                                 position    interior   some interior                                          (relative to           or exposed                                             foliage)                                                                      Calyx diam. (mm)                                                              mean        29.0       35.7       34.4                                        range       22-35      30-40      27-39                                       Corolla diam. (mm)                                                            mean        37.5       35.7       36.6                                        range       31-43      32-40      32-43                                       Fruit shape                                                                   length/width                                                                  ratio       1.16       1.15       1.05                                        range       10.2-1.25  1.00-1.31  1.00-1.28                                   subjective  conic to flat                                                                            mostly sharp                                                                             sharp conic                                             conic      conic                                                  Calyx position                                                                            even with  even/slight                                                                              slight neck to                                          shoulder   neck       slight indent                               Seed position                                                                             even/slight                                                                              slight indent                                                                            even/slight                                             extrude    to slight  extrude                                                            extrude                                                ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 5                                                         ______________________________________                                        Performance of `CN211`, `Selva`, and `Seascape`                               evaluated at the Watsonville Research Facility in 1995 and 1996.              All plants for these trials were harvested from Macdoel on                    October 16 or 17, and planted with four weeks supplemental                    storage prior to planting. Harvest was initiated in early                     April and continued through the first week of October.                        (52" 2-row beds, 17,300 plants/acre, 100 grams/plant = 316.3                  crates/acre)                                                                         Yield    Late Yield                                                                             Appearance                                                                            Size                                         Item   (g/plant)                                                                              (g/plant)                                                                              Score   (g/fruit)                                                                            Firmness                              ______________________________________                                        `Selva`                                                                              1,764    389      3.2     24.4   7.3                                   `Seascape`                                                                           1,832    375      3.3     24.0   6.9                                   `CN211`                                                                              1,740    307      3.5     27.1   7.7                                   ______________________________________                                         Late yield includes harvest from August 20 through October 10.           

I claim:
 1. The new and distinct cultivar of strawberry plantsubstantially as herein described and illustrated.